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HALIFAX – Despite a drop in the total volume of alcohol sold in the province, earnings at the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation increased during the last fiscal year.

While the volume of alcohol sold during the fiscal year that ended on March 31 dropped 2.8 per cent, the liquor corporation reported a 0.8 per cent boost in net income over 2012-13, to $228 million.

The corporation’s total sales increased to $593.2 million over the same period, up by $223,000.

Nova Scotia wines underwent a 10.6 per cent boost in sales – slowing down on a 21.9 per cent growth the previous year – while provincial cider sales jumped 146 per cent, building on a 95 per cent growth spurt in 2012-13.

The sale of Nova Scotia craft beers was up by 22 per cent, compared to an 11.7 per cent growth last year.

While customers made about 2.4 per cent fewer transactions, the liquor corporation reported the value of each transaction grew by about 2.4 per cent.